hughes



No. 6|8,354. Patented 1an. 24, |899. T. H. HUGHES.

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING YARN.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

/N VEN TUI? W/TNESSESS ATTUHNEY No. 6|8,354. Patented lan. 24, |899.

T. H. HUGHES.

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING YARN.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 189s.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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wlruflssssss //Y STATES tiene TERRENCE HENRYllUGI-IES, OF NEW" YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING YARN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 618,354, dated January 24, 1899.

Application filed February '7, 1898. Serial No. ($679,338. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it 11i/(ty concern:

Be it known that I, TERRENCE HENRY HUGHES, residing in New York city, borough of Brooklyn, in the State of NewYork, have invented a certain newV and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Printing Yarn, of which the following is a specification.

The printing of the yarns has long been effected by first winding the yarn in a proper receptive condition on a cylindrical drum Temporarily covered with a removable sheet of oil-cloth, so that the coils will be of equal length, and applying the several colors in longitudinal streaks on the yarn thus carried. All the streaks of a given color are applied by running a narrow roller or color-wheel lengthwise of the drum, allowing it to take up coloring material in a pasty condition held in a box below and apply it in the proper lines across the coils of yarn. The perfection of the operation is facilitated by following the color-wheel with a smooth piece of metal of slightly-greater width, termed a rubber or scraperj which by pressing and rubbing and probably partially rolling each yarn as it moves along behind the wheel contributes to make the application of the color to the entire surface of that short length of the yarn absolutely uniform In practice with proper materials and care the yarn is colored throughout with practical uniformity for the several lengths which are required.

I have devised importantimprovements in the details for applying the coloring material to the yarn and in the immediately subsequent rubbing and scraping.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specication and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a general view of the machine. It presents an end view of the drum and of the carriage which travels longitudinally thereunder. Fig. 2 is a view at right angles showing certain portions as seen from the right. The remaining figures show details on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a color-box and its contents, with the adj ustable regulator on the left side removed. Fig. 5 is a corresponding central vertical section. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are on a still larger scale. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through a socket carrying the stem of a scraper. Fig. 7 is a corresponding vertical section on the line 7 7 in Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a corresponding vertical section on the line S S in Fig. 6.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear.

Ais the fixed framing of the machine, B the drum, and m the single continuous yarn wound uniformly thereon.

C is a carriage adapted to traverse on ways A' A longitudinally of the drum, D a removable box containing the coloring material, and F. the narrow wheel, which runs therein and carries up the color. So far as yet .described all ordinary devices (not shown) for operating, giving the drum the required stepby-step motion at the right periods and giving the carriage C its reciprocations forward and backward, and for holding the color-box D and its contained color-wheelE reliably in the required position on the carriage C and allowing its convenient removal and its replacing at short intervals by another boX and wheel for applying another color-and for easily and rapidly connecting the axis of each colorwheel with the mechanism for slowly rotating it in the required direction to correspond with its traverse across the several yarns and for disconnecting it to allow the removal of the box and its contents may be of the ordinary and long-approved character.

F F are hinged flaps provided each with an under ridge F, mounted coverwise, butinclined iuward,in each color-box. The free portion of each flap is supported bystop-pinsF2 and covers a space between one end of the color-box D and the adjacent portion of the color-wheel E. Each is notched to partially, but loosely, embrace the adjacent edge of the wheel, and each carries a movable regulator G, but one being shown held adj ustably by a screw H, engaged in the flap beneath. By slacking this screw the regulator may be set nearer or farther from the wheel, so as to remove more or less of the color which is brought up and allow a uniform coating of the color to remain on the wheel and be applied to the yarn as the wheel rolls across.

The regulator at one end of the box serves when the carriage travels from right to left IOO and the other when the carriage makes the return movement, and the color-wheelis correspondingl y revolved in the opposite direction.

The outer edge of each flap F makes a tight joint with the adjacent surface of the boX by means of its under ridge F. This avoids the possibility of the color splashing over when the box is nearly full and the carriage, with its load, reverses its motion rapidly.

However evenly the color is carried bythe wheel, it is certain to be applied only on the outer half of each coil of yarn on the drum. If the color-wheel presses on the yarn with considerable force, it aids to press the color into and through the yarn; but severe pressure or any pressure is liable to produce a slight ridge at each side. As in other forms of mechanism for this purpose my apparatus employs rubbers or scrapers presenting smooth surfaces, so held that one or the other, according as the motion of the carriage and its load is in one direction or the other, shall slide along in the track of the color-wheel and rub or scrape in the color. I carry these rubbers or Scrapers on a tilting frame and provide for holding it reliably during each traverse and for changing its position at each end of the movement, and also for giving an adjustably-yielding pressure to each rubber while it is held up to its work.

l is a sufficiently stout tilting bar pivoted at C' to a bracket on the side of the carriage 'C and having a horizontal arm extending laterally at each end to the path of the colorwheel, with provisions, as screws 1213, for engaging an adjustable extension which carries a socket rfor the stem J of a rubber or scraper J. The socket i incloses a spiral spring K, on which the rubber rests, with liberty torise and sink. The lifting force which the spring exercises on the rubber is adjustable by a screw K. A horizontally-projecting pin J2, carried by the rubber stem J, extends into a vertical slot of the socket to permit the vertical movement of the scraper, but prevent the turning of the same.

The tilting bar I carries two pins l5 15, by which are loosely connected two links L, which cross each other, as shown', and perform important functions. Each is formed with a notch Z, adapted to fit closely on and firmly engage with a holding-pin C2, set at a low point in the mid-length of the carriage C, and carries a wheel L at its lower end. lVhile the carriage C and its load are being moved in one direction, one of the links L is firmly engaged with the pin C2 and holds the bar I properly tilted. After the carriage has traversed so far that the color-wheel and the scraper or rubber following it have passed beyond the end of the drum B, so that the traverse in that direction is complete, the proper link L is lifted by the contact of its wheel L' with an inclined tripperA2. 111 the first part of this ascending motion the notch Z of that link is disengaged from the holdingylength of each yarn.

pin'C2, setting the tilting bar l at liberty. The further lifting motion of that wheel L as it traverses farther up the incline on the tripper brings the upper edge ot' that link L into contact with a stop pin IG and by acting thereon lifts slightly that link and causes both links -to be temporarily locked in fixed position relatively to the frame, and the further lifting, due to the farther traverse, tilts the frame I into the right position for the return motion. So soon as this position is attained the notch Z of the other link L engages in its turn with the pin C2 and holds the whole iu position until at the completion of the reversing movement itis in turn lifted by the opposite tripper and the series of operations to reverse the conditions is repeated.

A* is a light frame which carries a sponge or other eflicient wiping appliance A5, against which the corresponding rubber or scraper is moved and cleaned at each operation. A similar provision is made at the other end for wiping the other rubber.

It will now be understood that the white yarn m is evenly wound on the drum B, so that the color applied will be evenly spaced, and is turned with the drum step by step to the proper extent after-each movement of the carriage, and that the carriage C at each traverse applies a narrow stripe of fresh color in the pasty condition evenly across all the coils of yarn, and that my rubber or scraper following causes this color to be properly rubbed in and to uniformly permeate the proper The subsequent treatments by steaming, tbc., to set the' color and washing to remove the fiour paste or other vehicle in which the color has been carriedfollow, and on subsequently drying and mounting the yarn in its proper relation to the accompanying yarns the entire preparation for weaving is complete. All these later operations may be conducted in the ordinary and long-approved manner.

I attach importance to the covers or flaps F F, turning on the hinges or pivots F', because in addition to their preventing escape of color when the reversals of motion are rapid they can be instantly and easily turned upward for the examination or renewal of the color, a veryimportant point when the colors require changing, and also because they form convenient supports for the adjustable regulators G and avoid the necessity of hinging the latter and relieve the color-wheel from the friction involved when this wheel is made to support such parts.

The improvement contributes greatly to the perfection of the work without interfering at all with the speed, and by its provision for preventing possible diiiculty from the effects of rapid and jerking movements on the semifluid coloring material allows a higher speed in the several reciprocations than has been heretofore considered expedient.

Modifications may be made without depart-l ing from the principle or sacrificing the ad- IOC) IIO

vantages of the invention. The trippers may be made conveniently adjustable in position in cases Where it shall be found expedient to vary the length of the traverse of the carriage and its load.

I claim as my inventionl. In an apparatus for vprinting tapestrycarpet yarns, the combination with the yarndrum, a traversing carriage, and rubbers or scrapers, of a color-Wheel and its box, the latter having hinged iiaps each provided at its outer end with a flange, and having their free portions supported by stop-pins projecting from the side of the box, said aps being notched to coliform to the peripheral portion of the color- Wheel, substantially as herein specified.

2. In apparatus for printing yarn, having a drum B, carriage C, box D, color-Wheel E therein, and means for operating as described, the flaps F F serving each as a partial cover adapted to perform the double function of preventing the escape of the color, and of supl ports for a regulator, and With the movable regulator G, matching the periphery of the color-Wheel, and the screws II for allowing the position of the regulator to be adjusted, all arranged for joint operation substantially as herein specified.

In apparatus for printing yarn, having a drum B, carriage C, box D, color-Wheel E therein, and means for operating as described, the bar I free to tilt on such carriage, and the scrapers or rubbers J carried thereby, and the links L pivoted to said frame with provisions for holding and releasing such links, all combined and arranged for joint operation substantially as herein specified.

at. In apparatus for printing yarn, having a drum B, carriage C, box D, color-Wheel E therein, and means for operating as described, the bar I free to tilt on such carriage,thelinks L L and provisions for alternately releasing and locking the same, the scrapers or rubbers J carried thereby, and the stem J' on each scraper free to rise and sink in a pocket 'L' in the tilting frame, and with the helical spring K in such pocket, substantially as herein specified.

5. In apparatus for printing yarn, having a drum B, carriage C, box D, color-Wheel E therein, and means for operating as described, the bar I free to tilt on such carriage,the links L L and provisions for alternately releasing and locking the same, the sera-pers and rubbers .I carried thereby, and the stem J on each, free to rise and sink in a pocket i' in the tilting frame, and with the helical springK and adjusting means K', all arranged for joint operation substantially as herein specified.

6. In apparat-us for printing yarn, having a drum B, carriage C, box D, color-Wheel E therein and means for operating as described, the bar I free to tilt on such carriage, the

scrapers or rubbers .I carried thereby, the inclined trippers A2 and the notched links L, L, each alternately engaging the holding-pin C2 on the carriage, and the proper stop-pin IG on the opposite link, all arranged for joint operation substantially as herein specified.

7. In an apparatus for printing carpetyarns, in combination With the yarn drum or cylinder, a color box and Wheel placed in a carriage, traversing on rails, a tilting bar bolted on the side of said carriage, an adjustable tube or socket bolted on each end of the frame, a scraper or rubber in one piece with its shank adjustably mounted in each tube or socket to follow in the path of the color- Wheel, and the spring K and adjusting means K to hold each rubber or scraper With yielding and nicelyadjustable pressure on the yarn, substantially as herein specified.

S. In an apparatus for printing carpetyarns, in combination with a yarn drum or cylinder, a color box and Wheel, traversing carriage, tilting bar and adjustable tubes or sockets slotted as described, rubbers or Scrapers having their stems seated in said tubes or sockets, thumb-screw for raising and lowering said rubbers, helical springs acting as cushions for the stems of the rubber or scraper, and a pin J 3 carried by each stem and extending into the socket-slot for preventing the turning of said stem, substantially as described.

9. In apparatus :for printing tapestry-carpet yarns the combination with a yarn-drum, color-box, its Wheel, and a traversing carriage, of a tilting bar carried by the latter and having tubes or sockets, rubbers or Scrapers therein, oppositely-extending links L, L, pivotally secured on the outer portions of the frame and notched as described, to cooperate with a projection C2, and provisions for actuating one or the other of the links at the limit of the carriage travel, substantially as herein specified.

l0. In apparatus for printing tapestry-carpet yarns, the combination with a yarn-drum, color-box, its Wheel and a traversing carriage, of a tilting bar carried by the latter and having tubes or sockets, -rubbers or scrapers therein, oppositely-extendin'g links L L pivotally secured on the outer portions of the frame, notched as described and carrying rollers on their inner free ends, engaging pins I6 on the links, a projection C2, and provisions for actuating one or the other of the rollers for raising its link, substantially as herein specitied.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

TERRENCE HENRY HUGHES..

Witnesses:

R. I-I. NEWMAN, M. F. BoYLE.

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